 JCP Shii: Struggle against tax increase policy must go on The FY 2005 government draft budget became law on March 23 after being passed by the House of Councilors by a majority of the ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties. The Japanese Communist Party, the Democratic Party of Japan, and the Social Democratic Party voted against because it will shift an extra burden of 7 trillion yen onto the people in the next two years with a consumption tax increase in mind. In the House of Councilors Budget Committee that preceded the plenary session, Daimon Mikishi spoke on behalf of the JCP and criticized the budget that will impose a major extra burden on the people in disregard of the actual conditions of the national and household economies. He demanded that the government drastically recompile the budget into one of supporting regional and household economies by cutting the military budget and budgets for wasteful big public works projects. Shii comments Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo at a news conference on the same day commented on the FY 2005 budget as follows: "The problem is that it paves the way for a major tax increase, beginning from a 50-percent cut in the fixed-rate tax break. The JCP warned the government about a major tax increase while household income is substantially declining, but the government rejected our advice. Though the budget was enacted, the struggle in opposition to a major tax increase and adverse change in social service systems must go on. The JCP will continue its efforts inside and outside parliament to prevent the prearranged burden from actually being imposed and to harness the tax increase policy." (end) |